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Musharraf faces court over Bhutto killing

Pervez Musharraf returned to Pakistan earlier this month to contest elections.

Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has appeared before an anti-terrorism court for the first time over the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Musharraf is accused of conspiracy to murder Bhutto, who died in a gun and suicide attack in December 2007.

The case is one of three he is fighting in the courts since returning home last month after four years in self-imposed exile.

Despite a heavy police and paramilitary presence, scuffles broke out between lawyers and Musharraf's supporters outside the court building.

Musharraf has been disqualified from contesting elections in the country on May 11 and is serving a two-week arrest order for other charges dating back to his 1999-2008 rule.

His lawyer, Salman Safdar, said Musharraf had appeared for the first time in a routine hearing of the Bhutto murder case.

In November 2011, the court indicted two police officers and five alleged Taliban militants over Bhutto's assassination.

In August 2010, it ordered the confiscation of Musharraf's property and the freezing of his bank accounts in Pakistan over his failure, while in exile, to appear to answer questions related to her death.

Safdar said Musharraf's lawyers asked the court to rescind those orders, given he was now prepared to appear in court, complained that lawyers had been barred from meeting him and demanded police investigate.

Murder accusations

Musharraf's government blamed Bhutto's killing on Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who denied any involvement and who was killed in a US drone attack in August 2009.

In 2010 a UN report said Bhutto's death could have been prevented and accused Musharraf's government of failing to give her adequate protection.

Bhutto's son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who is chairman of the outgoing Pakistan People's Party, has accused Musharraf of her murder.

On Monday, Pakistan's caretaker government refused to put Musharraf on a separate trial for treason, saying it was beyond its mandate and up to the incoming government, which will be elected on May 11.